Author: wanderingreece

Karpathos should be added to all the gastronomy travel sites . Everybody talks about Crete but here you can have quality delicious food in so many different places .

The best way to start your day is visiting menetes bakery in pigadia (you can also find the same bakery in the village menetes). Handmade bread , large variety of local products (rusks, local biscuits) and low prices .better visit early in the morning to find variety of products .

Pigadia unfortunately is the most touristic place of the island but you can find in the harbour some real good places to eat . If you are in the mood for pizza absolutely visit ciao pizzeria . Delicious pizzas , thin dough and big portions . For traditional Greek food oraia Karpathos serves traditional recipes . I loved stuffed cabbage rolls with cumin and couscous. Great view all over the harbour and the sea you can find in I zoi ton aggelon . Fresh seafood and Greek traditional recipes , sometimes live Greek music superfriendly staff. After your dinner you should absolutely try delicious gelato in Alfredo’s and handmade ice cream from a famous shop based in Rhodes (stani) offered in hasomeri. There you can also taste loukoumades, fried dough with honey and rice pudding .

As you leave pigadia you get more options for real good food. Near the airport and almost in front of the beach Christou pigadi there is a local taverna . Fresh seafood and I tasted the most delicious pasta with fresh tuna !! They also cook karpathian recipes such as fresh green beans with squids .we also tasted artichoked cooked with pork:)only for lunch open !

If you are in the mood for driving after visiting the traditional villages of Aperi continue to lastos. In Kali limni lastou you will find Thanasis !you won’t miss it there are a lot of signs . Better visit afternoon or during the day light. Vegetables from his garden , fresh meat , handmade bread . He will offer as treat his own made raki and before leaving loukoumades. It was an authentic gastronomy experience off the beaten track ! Don’t miss it.

The best sea food probably in the whole island you will find it in finiki. Small cove with some tavernas. To delfini (dolphin) offers salads with their own vegetable , premium quality olive oil and large variety of sea food. I loved pasta with seafood.

One of the best dinners in the island was in the traditional village of olympos .avoid the many touristic restaurants and walk through the village to find in the end the traditional windmill milos. They bake delicious pies with Greek herbs , cheese (from the morning) the make their own bread in the traditional wood oven , super fresh vegetables. Loved makarounes, meat balls , chicken souvlaki . One of the best places to eat in the island !

In diafani the best dinner and lunch we had was in la Gorgona.soagetti with handmade pesto, delicious pasta with seafood and everyday homemade sweets.

karpathos is the second biggest island of Dodecanese islands complex and till now .. Favourite destination for Italians and German travellers . It could be easily described as heaven on earth for travellers who love crystal blue water sea, unspoilt nature, hiking, good food and tradition .

Karpathos has the big advantage of the airport . Visitors can easily reach this beautiful island within an hour from Athens international airport . Daily charter flights come from Italy Germany and Netherlands as well. Otherwise it can be reached by boat after almost 24 hours trip in the Aegean .

The beaches ..

Literally you need weeks to discover the beaches in karpathos. There are dozens and each one is unique .

Top beaches are for sure near the airport on the southern part of the island

Diakoftis. Crystal blue water, exotic scenery feels like being in carribean . Sand and sunbeds in the main beach . There is also canteen if you need water beverages and snacks . If you want more privacy there is a less crowded beach beside the main beach . Exactly the same water if you visit midday (the sunlight makes the water look amazing) . Tip visit the beach early in the morning to avoid a lot of people

Damatria is a small cove east to find but the best coves are nearby ready to be explored . Small damatria was one of my favorite

Near the airport it’s worth visiting michaliou I kipos and psoriari I plaka . Sandy beaches protected from wind, rarely you ll find waves. In psoriari I plaka hundreds of sea shells mixed in the sand and a seacave nearby to explore.

sand all overseashells in layersPsoriari i Plaka, recommended for nudism

Agrialaopotamos is the beach destination for surfers . Two shops by the sea with uniforms and whatever you may need . Near there there is a small cove ai thoros/agios Theodoros with sunbeds and umbrellas as well.

The most popular beaches of the island is apella and Kira Panagia. Very crowded you may even have problem with parking and you will find umbrellas and sunbeds . Surely worth visiting but better go early . I d advise you though to have a daily trip excursion by boat from pigadia and have a stop also in Kato lakkos beach . It’s a heavenly beauty beach that also can be reached by car and then you have to walk round 20 min if you don’t have 4×4.

In the southern part of the island you can have daily excursions to the island of saria or visit beaches forokli nati opsi. Everyday two different boats make these excursions

Heading to olimpos there are also two roads heading to agios Minas. A big beach isolated with trees crystal blue water and a tavern . It was the only beach with some free campers . Take the first road it’s bit better than the second one .

Astipalaia is one of the most up trend islands the last few years in Greece..No wonder why! Very beautiful chora-main village, lots of beaches, delicious food. what can you ask more for vacations? It is located in Dodecanese islands complex.

Astipalaia has the advantage of the airport.. If you don’t want to go by boat (you ll need round 9 hours from Piraeus) you can go by aeroplane. Be sure though to book early because during july and august ist difficult to find tickets in affordable prices (the plane is small with few available seats).

The best place to stay is Pera Gialos. Pera Gialos starts from the old port and you can hardly stand Pera Gialos from chora-the main village. There are many beautiful rooms to rent, mini markets, bakery and tavernas. Chora is in walking distance, round 10 minutes-however its hilly.. From Pera Gialos you can also get the bus that goes almost everywhere to the island. But the beaches are hard to reach so ..its better to rent a car or motorbike. Otherwise you’ ll miss lots of islands’ beauties.

In Pera Gialos the best place to have dinner is Akti. Great view, unforgettable sunrise, quick service and everything we ordered was delicious.

In Chora you can find many churches and the best time to visit is before the sunset. During the day it’s really hot and everybody remains indoor or visiting the beaches.

On the top of the hill in chora there are ruins of the castle. The Venetian Quirini Fortress with the heraldic shield of the family. In architectural terms it belongs to the fortified settlement category where the outer walls of the houses are the curtain walls with small openings as murder holes.

The home of the Quirini is built around the entrance on the eastern side and covers two storeys. Until 1956 the entire fortress was inhabited.

Inside the fortress are two churches painted white with ornate bell towers. At the entrance is Panaghia Kastriani (Evangelistria) and at the end Aghios Georgios. The Panaghia Church was built in 1853 above the arched entrance to the fortress. Inside there is a founder’s inscription dated 1413 and the heraldic shields of the Quirini. Aghios Georgios was built in 1790.

During your visit to the Chora be sure to see the baby cemetery that is unique in the world.

Located in ‘reel’ overlooking the bay of Livadi. Both of archaeological and anthropological point of view this is a unique find and meet in the Geometric period.

Unique in the world in infant cemetery burials in pottery revealed Astypalea. The excavation revealed more than 2,500 burials of infants, especially newborn babies, which were deposited in earthen vessels, according to an landfill called jar-burial. Burial in earthen pots pots initially, and urns, jars, or amphoras and other pottery shapes were the most common method of burial in ancient times for babies, probably symbolizing the womb of their mother.The burial of the infant was usually opened hole in the belly of the vessel, which is then covered with the same piece that was cut or even a stone.
Scientists speculate that the area was sacred geometric era where believers came to deposit lost their baby or even embryos from abortions. Then, however, the original shrine of the Geometric period through the years developed into a Panhellenic sanctuary, where believers come to offer the lost baby, without grave goods, the same as a tribute.

Near there is a path leading to a small beach where basically locals go. 10 min walking and you ll have your private beach.

In Chora great place for dinner is Barbarossa and you have plenty of choices to go for a drink.

The most beautiful beaches need motorbike or car. However close to Chora and very easy to reach is Livadi. families prefer it, there are beach bars and tavernas. We had lunch at Astropelos. they produce their own cheese with herbs and have fresh seafood. we loved it! Kaminakia is difficult to reach but worth visiting. There you can find a tavern called Linda. Although there are lots of reviews about it, we weren’t satified at all.

Ble limanaki is a small cove close to maltezana, bit difficult to find but if you go early you have your own private beach!

Vatses is another beach you should visit. You ll definitely need car and you ll find a beautiful beach bar.

If you are into nudism you can visit small coves close to Livadi called tzanakia. No shade at all so bring umbrellas and supplies with you. it’s really beautiful also if you like snorkelling.

tzanakia coves

The most beautiful beaches to visit though are reachable by boat. Absolutely have a daily excursion from Maltezana or Platis Gialos. Arrange with the captains one day before your booking, because it is usually crowded. you ll visit two nearby islands with extraordinary beaches.

If you visit Astipalaia during August don’t miss on 15th August the big traditional festival !
For mor info visit the website http://www.astipalea.org

Donousa is a really small island in Cyclades with unspoilt beautiful beaches with crystall blue water. If you want to relax, enjoy swimming this is your paradise! Till 80s there was no electricity and for many years it used to be paradise for nudists and free campers. The last few years you can find some apartments to rent in the main village called stavros-which is also the port. There is a bakery, minimarket, 2 tavernas and 2 bars to have a drink at night.

Donousa is located close to Koufonisia, between Naxos and Amorgos and you ll need round 8 hours on deck from Piraeus.

Arriving at the port you ll be amazed to see that people are swimming nearby..

This photo is taken from the beach beside the port…

Fifteen minutes walking from port and the main village of the island called Stavros you find the amazing beach of Kedros. In this beautiful beach you can meet lots of freecampers and no need to carry with you water and snacks, cause there is a mini market, wc, and you can buy snacks, water and daily they prepare delicious salads, with vegetable that cultivate nearby.

The other famous beach of the island is called Livadi. As the island is really small you don’ t have to get a car to discover its beauties. You can get a taxi (round 8 euros to reach Livadi) or local bus with frequent scheduled program. If you are with friends (8 persons at least you can also call th driver and arrange to pick you up whenever you want, upon request and no extra charge!!)
Arriving at Mersini -the village on top of the beach be sure you wear comfortable shoes, suitable for hiking. You ll have to walk round 15 min a path leading to Kedros beach. The paradise of free campers and nudists. Don’t forget to carry with you water and some snacks because at the beach there isn’t any beach bar and you ll have to walk all way up…

At Mersini there are 2 tavernas with breathtaking view. The best time to visit..just before sunset. I visited Kori Tou Michali evrything we ordered was simply delicious!

The other part of the island has a beautiful beach called Kalotaritissa

The ones who have a boat will have the chance to swim in small coves that cannot be reached by foot.